Family separation of Afghan children in the US migration system
Several organisations working with migrant families have highlighted the risks and implications of family separation faced by Afghan children evacuated to the USA and the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. Indeed, KIND has made it clear in one recent report that ‘the (…) Administration’s current approach (…) violates the requirements of the [Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act)] and requires a systemic change’, in particular in relation to ‘implementing a streamlined and coordinated approach to support transnational family reunification and resettlement, (…) coordinate the protection of children throughout the U.S. immigration process, and ensure that children have access to appropriate services’.
According to HIAS, tens of thousands of Afghan families are still in US military bases awaiting resettlement; also entailing potential risks of family separation. The actions of these organisations are in line with the Administration’s creation of the Family Reunification Task Force a year ago, albeit it being focused on restoring the family relations and identities of children migrating from Mexico and Central America.
CHIP welcomes the efforts of organisations working in this field to ensure the protection of migrant children, whether with their families or unaccompanied, by focusing on reunification, contact and the restoration of their family relations, and therefore preservation of their identity.
